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Biography

Mayanne Downs, an Orlando native, has been a part of the Central Florida business community for over 35 years and has practiced law for 25 years. Mayanne’s practice areas include commercial litigation, appellate law and high stakes domestic matters. Appointed in 2007 by Orlando Mayor – and longtime close friend – Buddy Dyer, Mayanne also serves as the City Attorney of the City of Orlando, overseeing the work of 25 lawyers and providing counsel to the Mayor and City Commission.

Mayanne has handled a wide array of matters throughout her varied career, including eminent domain litigation and trials, personal injury cases, shareholder and business disputes, statutory shareholder valuation matters, non-compete litigation, legal malpractice defense, state and federal appellate matters, and numerous family and domestic matters involving high net worth or high profile individuals. Included in these matters are one of the largest divorce settlements on record (over $200 million), class actions, representation of lawyers and law firms, jury and non-jury trials, and appeals involving matters of first impression.

Recognized by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Best Lawyers in America and Orlando Magazine’s Best Lawyers, Mayannehas achieved a peer-based reputation for excellence in both legal management and advocacy. She was selected by the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fifth District Court of Appeal for nomination to Governor Jeb Bush for appointment to the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and received numerous other honors.

Mayanne’s commitment to academic and intellectual excellence began in law school, where she held two senior editorial positions on the University of Florida Law Review, was Chancellor of the Student Honor Court (a position also held by former Florida governor and United States Senator Bob Graham), a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame, tapped into Florida Blue Key, the recipient of American Jurisprudence Book Awards (for the highest academic performance in the class), and graduated with Highest Honors. She was also inducted into Order of the Coif.

Having served most recently as the 61st President of The Florida Bar – a mandatory bar association of well over 90,000 lawyers – Mayanne also served as the President of the Orange County Bar Association, the President of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, the President of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. In her role as President of the Bar, Mayanne traveled thousands of miles, spoke over 30 times, made presentations to over 20 editorial boards, testified before the Florida Legislature, and instituted the first direction communication between bar leadership and bar members about legislative matters.